Zimbabwe opened their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign clinically with an eight-wicket victory over Oman in the 8th Group B match at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, on February 9. After opting to bowl first, the Zimbabwean produced an all-round performance to chase down a mere target of 104 with 39 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe’s pace trio dismantles Oman’s batting lineup with Blessing Muzarabani leading the charge with a spell of 3 for 16, earning the Player of the Match award, while Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans chipped in with three wickets each. Oman never recovered from losing four wickets inside the powerplay and were eventually bowled out for 103 in 19.5 overs. Vinayak Shukla (28) and Sufyan Mehmood (25) provided some fight, but lacked support at the other end.

In reply, Zimbabwe made a good start through Tadiwanashe Marumani before Sufyan Mehmood struck twice to provide Oman a hope. However, Brian Bennett and veteran Brendan Taylor calmly stitched together a match-winning partnership. Bennett anchored the chase with an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls, while Taylor scored 31 before retiring hurt with a hamstring niggle. Captain Sikandar Raza sealed the win as Zimbabwe completed a comfortable victory to kick-start their World Cup campaign.

Top Batting performance of the match - Brian Bennett

Opener Brian Bennett looked in great rhythm with the bat against Oman as he scored an unbeaten 48 off 36 deliveries, taking his team over the line. Bennett looked comfortable against opposition bowlers and laced his knock with seven boundaries.

Top Bowling performance of the match - Blessing Muzarabani

Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers in the match. He finished with figures of 3/16 from his four overs at an economy rate of 4.00. The tall pacer's victims included removed key batters Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh, and Karan Sonavale, playing a crucial role in his team's victory. His partnership with Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans witnessed Zimbabwe picking nine wickets from their pacers.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Sikandar Raza has become Zimbabwe’s most-capped player in Men’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing Sean Williams with 15 matches.
• Taylor has set a new Zimbabwe record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Men’s T20 World Cup history with eight, going past Regis Chakabva’s five.
• Blessing Muzarabani is now Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in Men’s T20 World Cup history with 15 wickets, overtaking Sikandar Raza’s tally of 14.
• Shakeel Ahmed and Nadeem Khan’s 20-run stand is Oman’s highest ninth-wicket partnership in Men’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing the previous best of 11.
• Taylor and Brian Bennett stitched a record 68-run partnership for the third wicket, the highest for Zimbabwe in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
• The 103 runs conceded is the lowest total ever recorded against Zimbabwe in a Men’s T20 World Cup match.
• Zimbabwe seamers claimed seven wickets with short balls against Oman, the most dismissals by a team on such deliveries in a single T20 World Cup innings.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Blessing Muzarabani was named Player of the Match for his brilliant spell against Oman. The tall pacer looked at his very best right from the start of the innings. Bowling with the new ball, Muzarabani wreaked havoc and put the Oman batters on the back foot. His three-wicket spell ultimately handed the team a five-wicket win.

What is the next match?

Zimbabwe will play its next fixture against Australia on February 12 in Colombo, while Oman is set to face Sri Lanka on February 12 in Pallekele.